To be honest, whenever Manchester City is mentioned these days, Erling Haaland’s name comes first. The Norwegian goal machine has scored 13 of City’s 20 goals this season. Impressive? Absolutely. Worrying? Maybe a little.
A Blessing and a Burden- Manchester City
Haaland’s statistics are absurd, 26 goals for club and country as of November! Every time he touches the ball in the box, defenders panic and fans hold their breath. But as former City goalkeeper Shay Given said, “It only works as long as Haaland stays fit.”
City’s flexible, ball-possessive football has always been centered on distributing the load. Remember the days when goals came from everywhere? However, things are looking a little different this season. Besides Haaland, only Phil Foden, Ryan Cherki, and Matheus Nunes have scored one goal each. This is a concern if you think long-term.
Pep’s Tactical Dilemma
Pep Guardiola is no stranger to solving puzzles. He’s built teams around creativity, not just one superstar. But he also knows that over-reliance on Haaland could make City unpredictable. What if this big man gets injured or goes through a dry spell? Players like Cherki and Omar Marmoush have performed brilliantly, but they still need to perform better when needed.
Enjoy the Show While It Lasts
Frankly, City aren’t in a crisis situation. They’re still second in the Premier League, the division’s top scorer, and playing excellent football. For now, Pep can let Haaland do what he does best: tear down defenses for fun.
But sooner or later, others will have to share the spotlight. Because if City wants to remain untouched, they can’t let one person hold the crown forever.
